08 October 2006

Russian position that international law must be respected in Kosovo case produce visible resultsBelgrade, Oct 7, 2006 - Director of the Serbian government’s Office of Media Relations Srdjan Djuric said today that results of the Russian position that international law must be respected in solving the status of Kosovo-Metohija are visible.Speaking to Beta news agency, Djuric repeated the statement of Russian presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky that recognition of Kosovo’s independence despite Serbia’s will create a very negative precedent in international relations. Djuric also said that confirmation of Serbia’s new Constitution would confirm international principles of inviability of Serbia’s territory. Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported that Yastrzhembsky said at a conference “Russia and Germany, Hopes and Misunderstandings” that Kosovo is a severe challenge to the international community and a very important acid test for the wisdom of the world community. Djuric said that there were ideas that UN Special Envoy for Kosovo-Metohija Marti Ahtisaari should come up with a plan for Kosovo during the UN General Assembly’s session saying that Kosovo is a unique case in which case international law needs to be severely violated to allow the province’s independence. The adoption of the new Constitution is an absolute democratic right of Serbian citizens to confirm with their sovereign will that borders cannot be changed in a sovereign state without its will, Djuric pointed out.

Having tried all the other stock options - from war to economic pressure - a new plan now tries to lure Transnistria into Moldova with an economic carrot and stick policy. The plan is a repeat of a failed 1924 experiment from the Soviet Union. Here, columnist John Moynihan explains why it won't work.

In a new article, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that multilateral diplomacy based on international law should manage regional and global relations. Transnistria has repeatedly asked the world community to evaluate its claim to statehood based on an objective analysis of the facts in the context of international law. Will Russia (and Transnistria) be "contained", as some in the West want, or will international law be the guiding principle of relations between peoples?

Jesus Christ was a Communist. And, according to Moldova's president Vladimir Voronin, there is nothing in the Bible which criticizes Communism. The former Soviet-era General also told his country's priests that they "had no choice but to vote for the communists."

Michael Kirby scored a diplomatic "hole in one" during Wednesday's visit to Pridnestrovie's capital. The American Ambassador held firm on his country's anti-independence position but was nevertheless well received by youth in Tiraspol. Breakthrough leadership called the meeting positive and bestowed flowers on the US diplomat.

After Russian suspension of the CFE treaty, no troop pullout is imminent and Transdniestria peacekeeping operations will continue with Russian participation. Four sides currently supply peacekeeping troops to the multilateral force. In addition, the 56-member state OSCE also participates in the peacekeeping process with military observers.

Politicians in different "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union are following Kosovo's developments closely. In Nagorno Karabakh, they are seen as a way to achieve recognition under a new scenario. And in Transdniestria, the President stated that his country has a stronger historical and legal case for independence than Kosovo.

A presidential election in the unrecognized Nagorno Karabakh Republic is shaping up to be a battle between local democraticy and international double standards. On one hand, observers and analysts consider Nagorno Karabakh's democracy to be stronger than in neighboring countries. Nevertheless, the international community refuses to recognize the right of local residents to democratically choose their political leaders.

Russia is not a key player in Northern Ireland conflict settlement, so why is it realistic to expect the EU or the USA to be key players in reaching status settlement over Pridnestrovie? Mike Averko, a New York based independent foreign policy analyst and media critic, takes a sobering look at Russia's role in the region.

Russian company Inter RAO UES has started exporting electricity from its power plant in Transnistria (officially Pridnestrovie). It is the first time in more than twenty years that the plant supplies Romania with electricity. The plant has capacity to supply more than ten times of the electricity that Transnistria uses.

newseconomyMon, 16 Jul 2007 09:38:36 -0500Times staff1083 at http://www.tiraspoltimes.com
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PMR property reform seen as way to more economic freedom for poor
http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/pmr_property_reform_seen_as_way_to_more_economic_freedom_for_poor.html

The backers of a new law on private property reforms see it as a way to boost economic freedom. Aimed at giving the poor and rural population legal title to their homes, it is based on a wealth creation roadmap by Hernando de Soto. The Peruvian economist specifically had post-Soviet countries in mind when he developed the plan.

Having tried all the other stock options - from war to economic pressure - a new plan now tries to lure Transnistria into Moldova with an economic carrot and stick policy. The plan is a repeat of a failed 1924 experiment from the Soviet Union. Here, columnist John Moynihan explains why it won't work.

In a new article, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that multilateral diplomacy based on international law should manage regional and global relations. Transnistria has repeatedly asked the world community to evaluate its claim to statehood based on an objective analysis of the facts in the context of international law. Will Russia (and Transnistria) be "contained", as some in the West want, or will international law be the guiding principle of relations between peoples?

Jesus Christ was a Communist. And, according to Moldova's president Vladimir Voronin, there is nothing in the Bible which criticizes Communism. The former Soviet-era General also told his country's priests that they "had no choice but to vote for the communists."

Michael Kirby scored a diplomatic "hole in one" during Wednesday's visit to Pridnestrovie's capital. The American Ambassador held firm on his country's anti-independence position but was nevertheless well received by youth in Tiraspol. Breakthrough leadership called the meeting positive and bestowed flowers on the US diplomat.

After Russian suspension of the CFE treaty, no troop pullout is imminent and Transdniestria peacekeeping operations will continue with Russian participation. Four sides currently supply peacekeeping troops to the multilateral force. In addition, the 56-member state OSCE also participates in the peacekeeping process with military observers.

Politicians in different "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union are following Kosovo's developments closely. In Nagorno Karabakh, they are seen as a way to achieve recognition under a new scenario. And in Transdniestria, the President stated that his country has a stronger historical and legal case for independence than Kosovo.

A presidential election in the unrecognized Nagorno Karabakh Republic is shaping up to be a battle between local democraticy and international double standards. On one hand, observers and analysts consider Nagorno Karabakh's democracy to be stronger than in neighboring countries. Nevertheless, the international community refuses to recognize the right of local residents to democratically choose their political leaders.

Russia is not a key player in Northern Ireland conflict settlement, so why is it realistic to expect the EU or the USA to be key players in reaching status settlement over Pridnestrovie? Mike Averko, a New York based independent foreign policy analyst and media critic, takes a sobering look at Russia's role in the region.

Russian company Inter RAO UES has started exporting electricity from its power plant in Transnistria (officially Pridnestrovie). It is the first time in more than twenty years that the plant supplies Romania with electricity. The plant has capacity to supply more than ten times of the electricity that Transnistria uses.

newseconomyMon, 16 Jul 2007 09:38:36 -0500Times staff1083 at http://www.tiraspoltimes.com
-
PMR property reform seen as way to more economic freedom for poor
http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/pmr_property_reform_seen_as_way_to_more_economic_freedom_for_poor.html

The backers of a new law on private property reforms see it as a way to boost economic freedom. Aimed at giving the poor and rural population legal title to their homes, it is based on a wealth creation roadmap by Hernando de Soto. The Peruvian economist specifically had post-Soviet countries in mind when he developed the plan.